Uremic Pneumonitis: A Clinical, Physiological Study

Abstract

The pathogenesis and histological characteristics of uremic pneumonitis have not been well defined. Indeed, the suggestion has been made that it exists not as a distinct clinical entity, but rather as a manifestation of cardiac failure in the uremic patient (1-7). We have had the opportunity to study a patient in whom 5 episodes of uremic pneumonitis responded promptly to peritoneal dialysis. The results suggest that uremic pneumonitis does, indeed, exist as part of the pathophysiology of renal failure, and may occur without detectable evidence of cardiac decompensation.